Brief Specific Shortcut Keys, Brief Scheme

  • Article

The following shortcut key combinations mimic commands included in Brief and are used while editing code in the integrated development environment (IDE).

These commands work best when virtual space is enabled in the editor. Virtual space enables you to click anywhere beyond the end of a line in the Code Editor and type. You must clear the word wrap option before you can select virtual space.

To enable virtual space (v-space)

  1. On the Tools menu, click Options.

  2. Expand Text Editor and then click All Languages.

  3. Under Settings, select Enable virtual space.

  4. Click OK.

General Shortcut Keys

Commands

Shortcut keys

Description

Edit.BriefFileExit

ALT + X

Closes the current document.

Edit.BriefFilePrint

ALT + P

Displays the Print dialog box where you can choose printer settings.

Text Manipulation Shortcut Keys

Commands

Shortcut keys

Description

Edit.BriefBreakLine

SHIFT + ENTER

—or—

ENTER

Inserts a new line.

Edit.BriefInsertFile

ALT + R

Displays the Insert File dialog box, which allows you to paste the contents of a file into the current document.

Edit.BriefLineDelete

ALT + D

Deletes the entire line, regardless of the position of the cursor.

Edit.BriefLineDeleteToEnd

ALT + K

Deletes the line from the right of the cursor to the end of the line.

Edit.BriefLineDeleteToStart

CTRL + K

Deletes the line from the left of the cursor to the beginning of the line.

Edit.BriefLineOpenBelow

CTRL + ENTER

Inserts a blank line below the cursor.

Edit.BriefQuotedInsert

ALT + Q

Reads another key and inserts the key into the buffer. Keys must be 8-bit ASCII characters. Use this command to insert control characters, meta characters, or graphics characters into the buffer.

Edit.BriefSelectSwapAnchor

CTRL + SHIFT + X

Swaps the anchor and end points of the current selection.

Edit.BriefSetRepeatCount

CTRL + R

Repeats a command in the editor as many times as you specify. If you do not specify a number, the default repeat count is four.

To use, press CTRL + R and then enter a number to represent the number of times you want the next action to be repeated. The status bar will display Repeat: <number>. Then, enter the command you want repeated. You can use the menu to access the command or use the shortcut key for the command.

For example, if you want to indent a line of code seven spaces, press CTRL + R, then press 7, and then press TAB.

Tip

If you press CTRL + R repeatedly, each press increases the number of times that the action is repeated by 4.

Edit.BriefWordDeleteToEnd

ALT + BACKSPACE

Deletes the word to the right of the insertion point.

Edit.BriefWordDeleteToStart

CTRL + BACKSPACE

Deletes the word to the left of the insertion point.

Text Navigation Shortcut Keys

Commands

Keys

Description

Edit.BriefBookmarkDrop0

ALT + 0

Bookmarks the current line of code as bookmark zero. If the line of code has already been bookmarked, the existing bookmark is replaced with bookmark 0.

Edit.BriefBookmarkDrop1

ALT + 1

Bookmarks the current line of code as bookmark one. If the line of code has already been bookmarked, the existing bookmark is replaced with bookmark 1.

Edit.BriefBookmarkDrop2

ALT + 2

Bookmarks the current line of code as bookmark two. If the line of code has already been bookmarked, the existing bookmark is replaced with bookmark 2.

Edit.BriefBookmarkDrop3

ALT + 3

Bookmarks the current line of code as bookmark three. If the line of code has already been bookmarked, the existing bookmark is replaced with bookmark 3.

Edit.BriefBookmarkDrop4

ALT + 4

Bookmarks the current line of code as bookmark four. If the line of code has already been bookmarked, the existing bookmark is replaced with bookmark 4.

Edit.BriefBookmarkDrop5

ALT + 5

Bookmarks the current line of code as bookmark five. If the line of code has already been bookmarked, the existing bookmark is replaced with bookmark 5.

Edit.BriefBookmarkDrop6

ALT + 6

Bookmarks the current line of code as bookmark six. If the line of code has already been bookmarked, the existing bookmark is replaced with bookmark 6.

Edit.BriefBookmarkDrop7

ALT + 7

Bookmarks the current line of code as bookmark seven. If the line of code has already been bookmarked, the existing bookmark is replaced with bookmark 7.

Edit.BriefBookmarkDrop8

ALT + 8

Bookmarks the current line of code as bookmark eight. If the line of code has already been bookmarked, the existing bookmark is replaced with bookmark 8.

Edit.BriefBookmarkDrop9

ALT + 9

Bookmarks the current line of code as bookmark nine. If the line of code has already been bookmarked, the existing bookmark is replaced with bookmark 9.

Edit.BriefBookmarks

ALT + J

Displays the Bookmark dialog box.

Edit.BriefGoTo

ALT + G

Displays the Go To Line dialog box, which allows you to navigate to a specific line of code in the current document.

Edit.BriefWindowLeftEdge

SHIFT + HOME

Moves the cursor to the left-most character visible in the current line, not to the first character of the line.

Edit.BriefWindowRightEdge

SHIFT + END

Moves the cursor to the right-most character visible in the current line, not the last character of the line.

Edit.BriefWindowScrollDown

CTRL + E

Scrolls the buffer down one line.

Edit.BriefWindowScrollToBottom

CTRL + B

Scrolls the buffer to the end of the window or view.

Edit.BriefWindowScrollToCenter

CTRL + C

Scrolls the buffer to the middle of the window or view.

Edit.BriefWindowScrollToTop

CTRL + T

Scrolls the buffer to the beginning of the window or view.

Edit.BriefWindowScrollUp

CTRL + D

Scrolls the buffer up one line.

Edit.BriefWordLeft

CTRL + LEFT ARROW

Moves the insertion point to the left one word.

Edit.BriefWordRight

CTRL + RIGHT ARROW

Moves the cursor to the right one word.

Text Selection Shortcut Keys

Commands

Keys

Description

Edit.BriefSelectChar

ALT + A

Causes the selection to extend when you move the cursor or type.

Tip

Press ALT + A again to cancel the selection.

Edit.BriefSelectCharInclusive

ALT + M

Selects the character to the right of the cursor. Typing more characters and moving the cursor extends the selection.

Tip

Press ALT + M again to cancel the selection.

Edit.BriefSelectColumn

ALT + C

Selects the character or space to the right of the cursor. Causes the selection to extend left, right, up, or down when you press the arrow keys.

Tip

Press ALT + C again to cancel the selection.

Edit.BriefSelectLine

ALT + L

Selects the current line.

Tip

Press ALT + L again to cancel the selection.

Search and Replace

Commands

Keys

Description

Edit.BriefFind

ALT + S

Displays the Find and Replace dialog box.

Edit.BriefFindPrev

ALT + F5

Finds the previous occurrence of the search text.

Edit.BriefFindRepeat

SHIFT + F5

Finds the next occurrence of the search text.

Edit.BriefFindReplace

SHIFT + F6

Displays the Quick Replace options in the Find and Replace dialog box.

Edit.BriefFindToggleCaseSensitivity

CTRL + F5

Specifies whether or not QuickFind and Find in Files searches are case sensitive.

Edit.BriefFindToggleRegExpr

CTRL + F6

Specifies whether or not QuickFind and Find in Files searches use regular expressions.

Window Management

Commands

Keys

Description

Edit.BriefBrowse

CTRL + G

Displays the Object Browser window.

Edit.BriefWindowMaximize

ALT + F2

—or—

CTRL + Z

Restores the window size. Available only in MDI mode.

Edit.BriefWindowSplit

F3

Changes the view of the current document to use a two pane view.

Edit.BriefWindowSwitchPane

SHIFT + RIGHT ARROW

—or—

SHIFT + LEFT ARROW

—or—

SHIFT + DOWN ARROW

—or—

SHIFT + UP ARROW

Cycles through the MDI child windows one window at a time.

Tools.GoToCommandLine

ESC

—or—

CTRL + /

Places the cursor in Find/Command box in command mode. Press ESC again to return the cursor to the previous location in the editor.

See Also

Tasks

How to: Work with Shortcut Key Combinations

Reference

Brief Default Shortcut Keys